Can-closure structure and process



rFeb.v 117, 1931. B. DE LACY CAN CLOSURE STRUCTURE AND PROCEISS Filed July 23, 1927 11s ATTORNEXQ. f 1- Patented heb.. 17, 1931 maar OFFICE .mnu

BENJAMI DE LACY, DI? BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 'WILLAM VOGEL BROS. TiN-C., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CGRPORATION OF NEW YGRK CAN-CLOSURE STRUCTURE AND PROCESS Application filed July 23, 19427. Serial No. 207,838.

My invention relates to a new and improved closure structure for cans and similar vessels, and to methods of producing or applying such closures.

The structure includes a cap of pressed sheet metal of generally cupped or dished formation, having a top iange, a side wall of substantial dept-h, and a lower portion which formed with curvatures or depressions, or as otherwise stated, is initially formed to provide an area or amount of metal available for rea-forming or bending, after the cap is posit-ioned in an opening in the Wall of a can or similar vessel, to secure the cap in position and seal the opening, Without cracking or rupture of the cap; such cracking or other in] ury being avoided by the stated initial formation or deformation of the lower portion of the cap, which provides, in effect, excessinetal available for bending by pressing or spinning operations to effect the connection of the cap lwith the can Wall surrounding the orifice therein.

More particularly described with reference to the present specific embodiment, which rc presents a preferred form of cap structure, The cap bottom is formed with an annular depression surrounding a relatively elevated flat central portion, and after the cap is inserted in the can aperture, the side wall is distorted 'or spuni outward to form a` substantially annular horizontal bead or flange, the original annular depression providing metal available for the formation of this bead or flange without excessive strain upon the metal, or possibility of cracking or rups ture.

The process included in the invention consists, in one aspect, in pressing or otherwise distorting the lower or inner portions of a cap embodying the features above described, to produce a horizontal or lateral fiange or bead which interlocks the cap with the can Wall opening, and in such operation changing the original shape of the inner or bottom portion ofthe cap and in effect taking up excess metal originally provided therein and forming such excess metal into a locking flange or bead, with avoidance of undue strains upon the metal and, therefore, without cracking or rupture. In another aspect, the complete process includes the production, of a cap in the original form above described, its insertion in the can aperture, and subsequent deformation in the manner just above stated.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one representative structure and also explain one representative performance of the process. After consideringr these examples, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made within the principles of the invention, and I contemplate the employment of any structures, and any variations in the process or method, which are within the scope of the. appended claim.

Fig. l is a vertical sect-ion (that is, a section in an axial plane) of a cap, representing one suitable form-of this part of the invention structure.

Fig. l.d is a bottom plan of the same.

Fig. 2 shows the cap inserted in a can aperture, ready for fastening, and also sufficiently explains the fastening operation; and

Fig. 3 shows a cap fastened or locked in position and also represents the complete closure structure, including a can wall with its aperture and the cap located therein to form a sealed closure.

Fig. 2 shows the upper part of a can or similar vessel. usually of sheet metal, having a wall 1, which may be the top wall of the can, provided with an opening S2 for the convenient filling of the vessel, after which the opening is to be closed and s aled by a suitable cap and plug. The opening 2 may be defined by a plain, thin edge of the sheet metal top l, or otherwise the metal adjacent the opening may be pressed or spun to provide an. inward extending narrow iange or shallow annular Wall 3.

The cap C, Figi, which forms an important part of the invention structure, is of sheet metal and is originally pressed, as shown in that figure, in generally dished or cupped form, so that it includes a side wall 4 of substantial depth. a top iange 5 projecting outward. and a lower 0r inner portion including formations to provide, in effect, excess metal available for the subsequent bending or spinning,I operations which secure the cap'in position. A sufiicient example of such lower formations is given in Fig. 1, wherein there is formed in the cap bottom an annular depression G of preferably curved sectional contour, surrounding a flat central portion 7, which is substantially elevated in relation to the bottom 8 of the annular depression. There is thus provided. in the cap bottom an amount of area of metal substantially in excess of that needed to merely close the cap bottom. For practical purposes all outlines of the cap are usually round as shown in the bottom plan, Fig. la; thus, the Side wall 4 is substantially cylindrical or else slightly conical or ta iered, and the flange 5 and the various bottom lormations Gand 7 are of substantially round or annular contour, although in some cases the general form or contour of the cap might be oval or even polygonal.

The bottom portion 7 is usually located in a plane well below that of the top flange 5, to permit proper and convenientapplication ot suitable bending.,T or spinning tools to the side wall in the act of securing the cap in position.

A cap formed as above described is inserted in the opening 2 as shown in Fig. 2, with the flange 5 resting upon the outer face of the can-topwall- The side wall 4 thereupon projects through the opening, its upper portion being in engagement with the opening-wall 3. Then the side wall 4 is substantially conical or tapered a tight fit in the can wall opening may be secured; but otherwise the side wall 4 may be practically cylindrical and dimensioned to permit ready application into the can opening and in such cases slight looseness will be unobjectionable and will be taken up suliiciently in the act of securing the cap.

A suitable bending or spinning tool, such as 9 or a plurality of such tools, in accordance with common practice in this art, is then applied to the side Wall in a horizontal plane above the cap bottom portion 7 and below the plane or zone of the can aperture wall 3, and the side Wall is bent or spun outward to form a substantially hollow, annular, horizontally-projecting bead or flange l0, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 3, which shows the completed closure struct-ure. In this operation the metal included in the annular depression 6 is bent, taken up, or outwardly straightened to produce the substantially fiat cap bottom 1l, Fig. 3, and concurrently' the lower part of the side wall is deformed outwardly in close contact with the bottom edge of the aperture wall 3, the excess metal originally provided in the cap bottom structure providing for the formation of the annular locking bead or fiange l() without any severe strain upon the metal or possibility of cracking or breaking it.

In final form the complete closure structure comprises the can top wall l with its opening formed as above described and the cap C, seallocked therein, as above fully described.

In distinction from such old structures and methods, I provide a cap which is originally formed With excess metal available for deformation, and after the cap is positioned in the can aperture it is pressed or deformed in another manner or in a different direction, and at the same time the excess metal provided by the original formation of the cap is formed into the locking bead or flange without any excessive strain upon the metal and with avoidance of cracking or rupture. In this Way I not only produce a structurallysuperior closure, but provide a more rapid and economical process of production, since particular care need not be taken in the applying operation to avoid cracking or breaking the cap material.

I claim:

In a can closure structure having a hollow cylindrical sheet lnetal body portion for use as a sealing insert in the aperture of a wall of a can or similar vessel, an outwardly extending sealing piece for contacting flatly the outerside of the wall around the aperture, and a raised circular part of considerably less vdiameter than the internal diameter of the body portion disposed inside the body portion, a curved portion between the raised part and the body portion, and said body portion reaching respectively below and above the plane ofthe circularpart and together comprising material for expansion outwardly to make a sealing section adapted to lie against the innerside of the Wall surrounding the aperture, said circular part and said curved portion being spun into a fiat plane, whereby to secure and seal the attaching device in place while avoiding excessive strain upon the metal and con sequent rupture or cracking thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed mv name hereto.

BENJ. DE LACY.

said curved portion y 

